‘Focus on giving your best, not complaining,’ Manu Bhaker tells fellow athletes

Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic medallist, on Saturday (September 19, 2026) urged her fellow Indian athletes not to waste energy on pointing out the organisational chaos that has marred the build-up to the Asian Games, and to focus instead on giving their best in competition.

Athletes and officials from several countries, including India, have expressed dismay at the organisational mismanagement, cramped lodging and long travel time from hotels to training venues, as criticism mounts over the messy build-up to the Games.

“To all my fellow athletes from India, we will have some issues,” Bhaker said in a video message posted by the Indian Olympic Association. She said she had seen a couple of issues circulating on social media.

“Regardless of whatever the issues we have, this is probably once in a lifetime opportunity and experience. We have to make sure that we enjoy the time rather than complaining,” she said.